Detachable Protective Pads

ABSTRACT

A detachable protective pad may attach to an article of clothing and allow a person to work comfortably for long periods of time. It may be used in various applications to protect various body regions such as knees or elbows, from abrasions, discomfort, and moisture, or other risks.

FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to a detachable protective pad.

BACKGROUND

When a person kneels on a hard surface, they may experience discomfort in their knees. In the past, people have used knee pads to minimize the discomfort associated with the pressure of kneeling, and to protect knees or shins from sharp objects. Similarly, pads are often used to protect elbows or forearms from pressure or sharp objects. Pads are often held in place by straps, which tend to be tedious to put on and feel awkward and uncomfortable. Furthermore, pads with straps sometimes slip and require repositioning. Other pads slip into pockets of the garments, but these are often difficult to insert or remove. Still other pads were attached to material that slipped over an arm or a leg. These were often difficult to slip on and off and may be uncomfortable.

SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary of the disclosure to provide a basic understanding to the reader. This summary is not an extensive overview of the disclosure, nor does it identify key or critical elements of the claimed subject matter or define its scope. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts disclosed in a simplified form as a precursor to the more detailed description that is later presented.

The instant application discloses, among other things, a detachable protective pad. The detachable protective pad may be temporarily attached to a garment such as a pant leg or a sleeve, for example. The detachable protective pad may provide a comfortable way to protect a wearer's knee or elbow from the discomfort of high pressure and abrasions.

The detachable protective pad may include fastening devices, for example, snaps, buttons, hook and loop fasteners, or zippers, to secure the detachable protective pad to garments covering knees, shins, or elbows, for example. A user may use a detachable knee pad to work while on a floor. While working on the floor, the user may kneel and put pressure on the knee. A detachable protective pad may include a protective cover for both the knee and shin area, which may protect the knee and provide more comfort. Another embodiment may provide protective cover for a wearer's elbow, forearm, and/or wrist area.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present description may be better understood from the following detailed description read in light of the appended drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates one implementation of a detachable protective pad.

FIG. 2 illustrates another implementation of a detachable protective pad.

FIG. 3 illustrates one implementation of a detachable protective pad attached to a garment.

FIG. 4 illustrates another implementation of a detachable protective pad attached to a garment.

FIG. 5 illustrates a garment substitute operable with a detachable protective pad.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A more particular description of certain embodiments of a detachable knee pad may be had by reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings that form a part of this specification, in which like numerals represent like objects.

FIG. 1 illustrates one implementation of Detachable Protective Pad 100. Detachable Protective Pad 100 may have multiple layers. Detachable Protective Pad 100 may include a protective barrier generally shaped to fit the outer-facing region of the knee or elbow. Detachable Protective Pad 100 may include Outer Structure 120, made of protective padding, which may have a contour generally conforming to the shape of a knee or elbow. Detachable Protective Pad 100 may have a general cup shape or other shapes that may protect a knee or elbow joint. Detachable Protective Pad 100 may also include Pad Surface 140, which may be made of resilient padding material and may have Flexible Region 110, which may allow a flexing or folding movement, which may bend with the wearer's knee or elbow. Pad Surface 140 may protect a wearer from abrasions, scratches, and discomfort. Flexible Region 110 may be made of material that is flexible, or may be a hinge made of a hard material, for example. In another embodiment, Detachable Pad 100 may not have a Flexible Region 100, and may stay straight as a user bends a knee or elbow.

Fastening Hardware 130 may be coupled to Detachable Protective Pad 100, and may include buttons, snaps, hook-and-loop fasteners, zippers, or other fasteners operable to temporarily attach Detachable Protective Pad 100 to a garment. One skilled in the art will recognize that various numbers and types of fasteners may be used to attach Detachable Protective Pad 100 to a garment.

FIG. 2 illustrates one implementation of Detachable Protective Pad 200. Detachable Protective Pad 200 may have a circular shape, rectangular shape or another shape that suits the wearer's garment. Detachable Protective Pad 200 may also include a Pad Outer Structure 220, which may be made of resilient padding material operable to bend along the wearer's knee or elbow, and may provide a consistent layer where Detachable Protective Pad 200 contacts a user's body. Pad Inner Layer 210 may be disposed between Pad Outer Structure 220 and Pad Surface 240, and may be operable to soften any impact to Pad Surface 240, which may help protect a user.

Fastening Hardware 230 may be coupled to Detachable Protective Pad 200, and may include buttons, snaps, hook-and-loop fasteners, zippers, or other fastening means operable to temporarily attach Detachable Protective Pad 200 to a garment.

Pad Surface 240 may be flexible, resilient, or water-resistant, and may be made of natural or synthetic materials. Pad Surface 240 may help protect a wearer from abrasions, scratches, and discomfort.

FIG. 3 illustrates one implementation of Detachable Protective Pad 300 attached to Garment 360. Detachable Protective Pad 300 may be generally in the shape of a rectangle, a pentagon, a triangle, a circle, or other shape designed to cover a wearer's knee, shin, or elbow region, for example. Fastening Hardware 330 may be arranged on Detachable Protective Pad 300, and may include buttons, snaps, hook-and-loop fasteners, zippers, or other fastening means to removably attach Detachable Protective Pad 300 to Garment 360. Corresponding fastening devices may be disposed on Garment 360 to receive Fastening Hardware 330. Detachable Protective Pad 300 may also include a Pad Outer Structure 320, which may be made of resilient padding material operable to bend along the wearer's knee or elbow, and may provide a consistent layer where Detachable Protective Pad 300 may contact Garment 360. Pad Inner Layer 310 may be disposed between Pad Outer Structure 320 and Pad Surface 340, and may be operable to soften any impact to Pad Surface 340, which may help protect a user.

Garment 360 may consist of garments, such as jackets, shirts, sweaters, coats, overall pants, leggings, work pants, or other types of garments. Fastening Hardware 330 may be operable to couple Detachable Protective Pad 300 to Garment 360. One having skill in the art will recognize many fastening means may be used to attach Detachable Protective Pad 300 to Garment 360.

Detachable Protective Pad 300 may be used in a variety of applications. For example, Detachable Protective Pad 300 may shield and protect a wearer while they are kneeling on a hard surface and installing new carpeting or while standing on a ladder and leaning their knees and shins on the ladder. A wearer may also use Detachable Protective Pad 300 to protect their elbows, for example, while working in a crawl space underneath a house.

FIG. 4 illustrates one implementation of Detachable Protective Pad 200 attached to Sleeve 400. Detachable Protective Pad 200 may be used to protect a user's elbow by being coupled to Sleeve 400 by Fastening Hardware 230.

FIG. 5 illustrates Garment Substitute 510 operable with a detachable protective pad. A user may not have a garment with Fastening Hardware 520 attached, and may still wish to use Detachable Protective Pad 200. The user may also wish to use Detachable Protective Pad 200 while wearing shorts or a short-sleeved shirt, for example. Garment Substitute 510 may have a generally cylindrical shape, and may fit over a user's leg, arm, or a garment. Garment Substitute Front 530 may be made of an elastic material, cotton, or of any other material a garment may be made of, for example. Garment Substitute Back 540 may be made of an elastic material, or may have straps to allow easy attachment and removal of Garment Substitute 510. One having skill in the art will recognize that Garment Substitute 510 may be held near a joint in numerous ways.

The foregoing description of various embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. It is intended that the scope of the invention be limited not by this detailed description, but rather by the claims appended hereto. The above specification, examples, and data provide a complete description of the manufacture and use of the invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended. 

1. A detachable protective pad comprising: padding material configured in a protective concave pad shape; and a fastening means operable to couple the detachable protective pad to a garment, the fastening means selected from the list consisting of snaps, hook-and-loop fasteners, buttons and buttonholes, and zippers.
 2. The detachable protective pad of claim 1, wherein the garment comprises a pair of pants.
 3. The detachable protective pad of claim 1, wherein the garment comprises a pair of overall pants.
 4. The detachable protective pad of claim 1, wherein the garment comprises a pair of leggings.
 5. The detachable protective pad of claim 1, wherein the garment comprises a sweater.
 6. The detachable protective pad of claim 1, wherein the garment comprises a shirt.
 7. The detachable protective pad of claim 1, wherein the garment comprises a coat.
 8. The detachable protective pad of claim 1, wherein the detachable protective pad includes an inner layer and an outer abrasion resistant layer.
 9. The detachable protective pad of claim 1, wherein the detachable protective pad includes a water-resistant layer.
 10. A garment comprising: a first fastening means attached to an area near a joint, operable to couple a detachable knee pad with a corresponding second fastening means.
 11. A garment substitute comprising: a first fastening means attached to an area near a joint, operable to couple a detachable knee pad with a corresponding second fastening means. 